Hobbyhorse



June 3, 1941. w, H, STOQER 2,244,028

HOBBYHORSE Filed April 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NAMHHIHI N if. E 5701 9;

IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

June 3, 1941.

W. H. STOVER HOBBYHORSE Filed April 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WJZ/SZaver IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOBBYHORSE Wilfred H. Stover, Dinsmore, Fla.

Application April 18, :1940, Serial No. 330,399

Claims. I (Cl. 272-53) Thedevice forming the subject matter of this application is a wheel-mounted toy of the stepper type. Among the objects of the invention are: to provide a supporting structureof great strength, to improve the construction of the thrust member, and to provide novel means for mounting and operating the thrust member.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains,

With the above and other objects in view, which will'appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation wherein parts are broken away;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental vertical section wherein par-ts depicted in Fig. 3 are shown on an enlarged scale.

The device forming the subject matter of this application comprises a base B. The base B includm an elongated body I and a cross piece 2 secured to the rear end of the body, Swiveled castors 3 are mounted on the ends of the cross piece 2. A swiveled castor 4 is mounted on the forward end of the body I. There is an eye 5 on the forward end of the body I, and to the eye 5 a towline 6 is attached, for use in pulling the device about, rather than propelling it in a way to be described hereinafter.

A forwardly inclined standard S is provided, the standard including inwardly inclined side pieces I secured at 8 to the edges of the body I. A block 9 fits closely between the side pieces I and rests on the body I, The side pieces 1 are attached to the block 9 by securing elements 10. The side pieces I and the block 9, further, are held together by foot rests II, which may be rods, passing through the side pieces end entering the block as shown in Fig. 4. The block 9 has three purposes. It reenforces the standard, it serves as a guide for parts to be described hereinafter, and it constitutes an abutment for the lower end of a spring to be mentioned hereinafter. The block 9 has an inclined slot l2. There is an inclined opening 14 in the body I, in line with the slot 12.

A pivot element I5 is mounted in the upper portions of the side pieces 1 of the standard. The reduced end It of a seat I! is mounted on the pivot element l5, to swing vertically between the side pieces I of the standard. An upwardly extended arm I8 is secured to the forward part of the seat member Hi, The arm I8 is shown as simulating the head of a horse, but it may be given any other appearance. A transverse handle I9 is secured in the upper part of the arm [8.

A thrust member 20, in the form of a rod, is provided, the upper end of the thrust member being pivoted at 2| to the part IS, a little to the rear of the pivot element IS. The thrust member 20 has longitudinal movement, and a slight swinging movement from front to back, in the slot [2 of the block 9 and in the opening M of the body I. Owing to the fact that the thrust member 20 is received somewhat closely in the slot l2 of the block 9, the tendency of the thrust member 20 to bend laterally after considerable use, is nullified.

There is a slot 22 in the lower end of the thrust member 20. A forwardly inclined anchor 23, such as a nail, is mounted in the bottom of the body I. A return spring for the thrust member 20 is supplied. The return spring may be a rubber band 24, engaged with the anchor 23 and in the slot 22 of the thrust member 20. A friction foot is mounted on the lower end of the thrust member 20. The friction foot may be the rubber head 25 of a nail or tack, the shank 26 of which enters the lower end of the thrust member 20. The slot 22 is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the thrust member 20. This is done so that the shank 26 may not enter and weaken or sever the rubber band 24 where it passes through the slot 22. The friction foot 25 bridges the slot 22 and retains the band 24 in the slot.

, A securing clip 21 is mounted on the underside of the seat part I6 and retains the upper end of a compression spring 28. A clip 29 holds the lower end of the spring 28 on the upper end of the block 9 of the standard.

' A child occupying the seat H and having its feet on the body I of the base B can throw its full weight on the seat and cause the seat to swing down on the pivot element l5 in an obvious way. The thrust member 20 is reciprocated, the friction foot 25 has a good hold on the floor, and the vehicle is advanced. The spring 28 serves to raise the seat l1-l-6 when the Weight of theoperator' is relieved from it. On its impelling stroke, the thrust member 20 swings backwardly and on its return or upward stroke, the thrust member 20 is swung forwardly to the position of Fig. 3, by the action of the resilient member 24.

The article may be made of any desired material or combination of materials. It is simple, easily and cheaply made, and embodies features which give it stability and enable it to withstand hard use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A toy vehicle of the stepper type, comprising a wheel-mounted base, a standard on the base, a seat pivoted to the standard, a lifting spring interposed between the seat and the standard, a floor-engaging thrust member guided through the standard for longitudinal reciprocation and for front and back swinging movement, and a pivotal connection between the thrust member and the seat.

2. A toy vehicle of the stepper type, comprising a wheel-mounted base, a standard on the base, a seat pivoted to the standard, spring means for lifting the seat, a thrust member pivoted to the seat for longitudinal reciprocation and for front and back swinging movement, and having a slot in its lower end, a pull spring mounted on the base and received in the slot, and a friction foot on the lower end of the thrust member and bridging the slot, to hold the pull ing a wheel-mounted base, a standard on the base and provided with an inclined slot, a seat pivoted to the standard, a lifting spring interposed between the seat and the standard, a floorengaging thrust member guided through the slot for longitudinal reciprocation and for front and back swinging movement, the thrust member being of such diameter, relatively to the slot, that the thrust member will be prevented, by the standard, from springing laterally, and a' pivotal connection between the thrust member and the seat.

5. In a toy vehicle of the stepper type, a wheelmounted base, a guide block on the base, side pieces secured to the block and to the base, a seat pivotally mounted between the side pieces, a lifting spring interposed between the seat and the block, the block and the base having inclined, alined openings, and a floor-engaging thrust member pivoted to the seat and guided through the openings.

WILFRED H. STOVER. 

